Production at Tilbury's newest employer, United Industries Inc., is expected to start by mid-summer 2023.
During a Zoom call on Tuesday, President Greg Sturicz said there's been a couple of hires already, but hourly employees will be hired later as the company is still developing their wage package and a human resources strategy, adding the wages will be "fair".
Sturicz said United Industries has leased the old Woodbridge Foam factory at 189 Queen Street N. for 30 years and he expects the plant will be in Tilbury for a long time.
Sturicz said the company is anxious to get going in Tilbury, but there's still a lot of work to do.
"If there's any concern about being around for a while, we don't plan on moving in and out. The stuff we're moving in is pretty intensive. This is not something we can get in and out very easily. Once it's in there, it's going to have to stay in there for a long time," said Sturicz.
The company did not disclose any other terms of the lease or whether incentives were involved in the deal.
The plant expects to hire 100 workers along with local tool and die and other contractors.
Sturicz said the plant has room to expand production and could add warehousing space later if needed.
He also said the company looked at other jurisdictions such as Windsor, but ultimately the factory in Tilbury fit their criteria because it's a good central location for importing and exporting, has easy access to rail, and has a strong workforce.
Sturicz added the multi-million dollar plant in Tilbury with its laser welders and other hi-tech equipment and laboratories is the first of its kind in Canada and the move to Canada opens more doors for United Limited in terms of growing its market share in Canada and importing Canadian steel.
Sturicz said moving to Canada has been in the works for a while.
"I think Canada has been on the radar for a number of years. As supply chains become tighter, it enables us to have access to other parts of the global market more readily on the supply side obtaining steel from different sources as well as exporting. Exports were hampered a little bit out of the United States over the last few years with tariff issues on steel and anti-dumping duties and things of that nature," he said.
United Industries, Inc. makes high-purity, highly-polished stainless steel tubing used in industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology.
"Our largest growth sector right now is tubing that's used for semi-conductor and pharmaceutical. Everything you touch every day is made through stainless steel tubing. Your cell phone with the chips in it, the chips are not made without stainless steel tubing. Soaps and shampoos, those cannot be processed without stainless steel tubing. Even the automobile you drive, we have an integral part in the hot end of the exhaust. We have all of the tubing in all of the Molson [beer] facilities. As long as people are around, these products are going to be necessary," Sturicz added.
The family-owned business was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin.
To learn more about the company click here.